Current Developments in Japanese Law

Abstract

On 21 March 2016 the Hamburg Max Planck Institute proudly hosted a further installment of its annual lecture programme “Current Developments in Japanese Law”. The half-day symposium considered several topics of interest. The lectures are presented hereafter in a slightly revised version.

The first speaker looked at recently proposed Japanese legislation regulating space activities as well as associated issues of liability, with comparative reference being made to the compensation regime for nuclear damage. The second talk presented a thorough overview of current developments in Japan’s international family law. The symposium was rounded out by a discussion of two new Japanese Supreme Court rulings, the first on the constitutionality of the law prohibiting women from remarrying for at least six months from the time of divorce and the second on the constitutionality of Japan’s prohibition against separate surnames for married couples.